FraudTrack 2026 – £5.5bn lost to fraud last year
Looking back at 2025, what stands out is not only the scale of fraud, but its increasing sophistication.
Stephen Peters, Partner
This report analyses reported fraud cases across the UK with a monetary value of £50,000 and above between 1 December 2024 and 30 November 2025. Each year we analyse the nature of reported fraud from a variety of news and other reporting sources.
The report highlights the increasing sophistication of fraud, driven by familiar motives such as greed, glamour and gambling. Despite advances in detection, billions are lost annually, with high-value fraud concentrated in London and the South East.
What has changed is not the human impulse behind fraud, but the finesse with which it is executed. The threat is not diminishing – it is adapting.
Discover the recent changes in the most prevalent types of fraud and economic crime, the rise of sophisticated AI and tech-driven frauds, and the need for stronger prevention strategies.
Key takeaways:
- The overall value of UK reported fraud and economic crime surged to £5.5bn in 2025, largely influenced by a small number of exceptionally high value cases
- Money laundering was the top reported economic crime by value in 2025, totalling £4.9bn
- Frauds perpetrated by individuals contributed a further £207m while management fraud rose to £195m
Read the report for a closer look at:
- Fraud trends
- A regional split of reported fraud
- Sector impact, including Finance and Insurance, Public Administration, and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.
- Motives behind UK fraud
- Fraud detection methods
- The evolving regulatory and legal landscape, with an increased focus on Crypto assets and the impact of AI
- 2026 predictions and beyond, how will the fraud risk playbook be rewritten through technological acceleration?
If you have any questions or would like to find out more information please get in touch with Stephen Peters and Karen Edwards. Get the next FraudTrack report delivered direct to your inbox - sign up today to stay up to date.